The focus of the curriculm we are using is "We Can Trust the Bible" and it has really opened my eyes to the need to not only believe that the Bible is from God, but to know it well enough to use it to explain to others why it is so important. Not surprisingly, we've been doing the same study (though age appropriate) during my Monday night ladies' study (you all know how I get when I am interested in something).
Below are last night's notes. Just some food for thought for anyone who might question if it matters whether or not Christians know the Bible.
The Bible Is Complete
Q: If you could time travel, what one Biblical event would you like to witness in person?
- Origin of the Bible (II Timothy 3:16-17 & II Peter 1:19-21)
- God through the Holy Spirit inspired ordinary men (prophets) to record His words.
- The recorded words are inspired Scripture.
- Scripture is for each of our individual benefit.
- The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
- Setting
- 2 Disciples (Cleopas & ?) and Jesus
- Between Jerusalem and Emmaus (7 miles)
- Easter Sunday (after He appared to ladies and Peter)
- Mood: Disappointment/Sadness
- Disciples knew He had died and that it was the third day
- Disciples had expected Him to "redeem" them from Rome (expecting earthly, not heavenly kingdom)
- Jesus' Response: Disappointment/Rebuke
- Same as He gave to Pharisees, "didn't you read the Scripture?!?"
- Explains to them how He was present from the beginning
- Examples from Scripture that He may have used
- Beginning (John 1:1)
- Fall (Genesis 3:15)
- Exodus (I Corinthians 10:4)
- Prophecy of Abused, Beaten & Crucified Messiah (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53)
- Prophecy of Righteousness & Healing (Malachi 4:2-3)
- Jesus' Point - Scripture testifies to His life, death and resurrection, if it is understood
- Jeremiah & the Scroll (Jeremiah 36:1-4, 17-31)
- Type of Literature - History
- Who did God command to write His word: Jeremiah
- Who wrote the word: Baruch
- Message: God will judge Israel & Judah; they must repent before it is too late
- Overseers response: Urged them to hide & hid the scroll before telling King about it
- Jehoiakim's response: Cut up & Burned it; did not take it seriously
- Others' response: Mixed (36:25)
- God's response: Protected Jeremiah & Baruch, inspired Jeremiah a second time
- Key: Did King believe it was the word of God? no;
- Did God consider His lack of understanding/faith a legitimate reason/defense for his actions? No (36:30-31)
- Big Picture: God preserved His word
- Does He still? Yes - Dead Sea Scrolls
- 24,000 partial and complete manuscripts found in Qumran in 1947
- Prior to 1947 oldest Isaiah manuscript dated 980 AD
- Found Isaiah manuscript dated to 150 BC
- 2 manuscripts 95% the same
- Conclusion
- Does/should Jesus' view of the saving power of Scripture change our view/use of Scripture?
- Does/should God's miraculous preservation of Scripture for thousands of years change our view/use of Scripture?
- Final Question: If given the chance to use one single Biblical Passage to defend the need for Scripture, what would you choose?
- Group responses: John 3:16; Romans 10; II Timothy 3:16-17
- Rich Man & Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) - shows the horror of separation from God after death, and Jesus' teaching that those who don't believe the teachings of the Scripture would be no more inclined to believe (and be saved) if someone were to return from the dead and tell them
"The failure to know the Jesus of the Scriptures is to know only the Jesus of our imagination."
- Chester A. McCalley
